US African envoy sees Sudan rebel leader

The American Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Walter Kansteiner - now in Kenya - has had a meeting with the leader of one of the main rebel groups in Sudan as part of the Bush administration's decision to take a more active role there.

After his talks with John Garang of the Sudan People's Liberation Army, Mr Kansteiner said he intended to talk to all the main beligerents, as well as Sudan's neighbours.

The United States closed its embassy in Sudan in 1996, imposed tough trade sanctions and bombed a pharmaceutical factory it said was preparing to make chemical weapons.

Mr Kansteiner, who is on his first trip to Africa since being sworn in last month, it to see President Daniel arap Moi later today, before going on to South Africa.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service